The Brave Pedestrian

July 27, 2009:  If you folks are civilized when you are behind the steering wheel, then maybe you are more evolved human beings than I am. When I am driving and come across a bunch of pedestrians trying to cross the road, I don’t slow down unless the signal is red. I flash my headlights menacingly, honk my horn and speed up. Translated into words, this action means, “Watch out! I’m bigger and clad in a metal armour! So step out of my way… or else!” When a pedestrian stands in front of my accelerating vehicle, this isn't a friendly warning but a direct threat of physical harm. From where he stands, my car isn't a vehicle of transportation; for him, it is a weapon of death, like a loaded cannon ready to fire. No, we don’t see this as a social injustice because we are all so USED TO IT, dammit! Just as, in the days of feudalistic zamindari and untouchability, neither the overlords nor the downtrodden felt that they were part of an unjust system! They felt it was a normal wa...

July 26, 2009: Every city can carry only so many cars in terms of its roadspace and parking spaces without becoming increasingly dysfunctional, unlivable and unmotorable. I personally believe that Mumbai’s optimum was reached and crossed back in the early 90s. It is urgent to define the optimal ratio of vehicles to roadspace & parking space available i.e.  No. & Size of vehicles : Sq. metres of road & parking space available In order to the retain the quality of public spaces in any city, and prevent them from being cluttered with vehicles — whether moving or parked — it is important to calculate this ratio and make the people aware of it. In my opinion, it is necessary to take an unpopular measure and cap the number of vehicles, and roll back their numbers by at least 10 years. The road transport authorities must STOP REGISTERING NEW PRIVATE VEHICLES… and must actively phase out the largest vehicles that occupy the most space and consume the most fuel. Failing t...